AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON User manual

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON - user manual

Thank you for buying the Audiobyte Black Dragon DAC/digital audio preamplifier. You

have now one of the finest devices of it’s kind available on the market.

The Black Dragon was designed to give you countless hours of musical enjoyment.

The package you received should contain:

- Audiobyte Black Dragon digital preamplifier, black anodized

- Power supply cord

- Infrared remote control

Safety Precautions:

1) This device is meant for indoor use only.

2) Protect device from excessive heat, humidity and liquid filled objects, such as vases.

3) Clean only with dry cloth.

4) Do not remove product covering. This may cause an electric shock even if the device is not

plugged in.

5) Use earth grouded outlet if applicable.

6) Before plugging any cables in the device, make sure it is turned off.

7) Do not move the device while operational.

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8) Lightning or static electricity can affect normal operation of the apparatus. Make sure that

it is unplugged during a thunderstorm. If the device is affected by one of these conditions

and stops behaving as it should, a power reset usually resumes it’s normal operation.

9) Power off or unplug the power cord if the device is not to be used for a long period of

time.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION :

Digital to analog converter with variable analog outputs

Inputs are : AES/EBU, S/PDIF, USB, I2S – (HD-Link), Optical Toslink

Outputs are: Single ended and XLR balanced audio outputs, headphone output

FRONT VIEW :

LEGEND :

1) Power switch

2) IR sensor

3) MENU key (similar function on remote control)

4) Dot-matrix display

5) Down (-) key (similar with remote)

6) Up (+) key (similar with remote)

7) Headphone socket (6.3 mm)

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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BACK VIEW :

The conenctors on the back panel are self-explanatory (upper left side – outputs, bottom

right – inputs; upper right – fuse and AC inlet)

POWERING UP

1) Connect the Black Dragon to the mains.

2) Connect the necessary inputs and outputs.

3) Make sure you power up the Black Dragon before the power amplifier you are using

and shut it down after the power amplifier. In respect to signal purity path, the dac

does not have muting relays in the signal path. Therefore, occasional pops can occur

on powering up/shutting down. It is recommended to respect the above described

power sequence.

4) On powering up, the active input (1) and corresponding sample rate (2) are indicated.

This is the defult screen of the unit.

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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The input can be : USB, RCA, XLR, OPT and I2S. Sample rate can vary from 44 to 384k

for PCM signal. DSD type of signal is indicated with D64 (for DSD 2.8 Mhz) or D2X (for

DSD 5.6 Mhz).

Display showing input sample rate of 384 KHz (PCM)

Display showing input sample rate of DSD64 (or DSD 2.8 MHz)

Display showing input sample rate of DSD128 (or DSD 5.6 MHz)

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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When no signal is detected on the selected input, three horizontal lines will indicate

the lack of the input signal.

VOLUME CONTROL

To use the preamplifier section of the dac, you can directly press “+” or “-“ keys on the

unit (keys 5,6) and volume value will show up on screen for a couple of seconds.

Volume value can be between 0 and 127. Last value will be memorized automatically,

as well the last used input. To bypass the preamplifier section volume must be set at

max. (127). The volume control keys are replicated on the remote (up, down).

MENU

The dac menu can be accesed by pressing the Menu key (M), or the remote central key.

By pressing it once shortly the following screen appears, allowing change of the active input :

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Pressing the +/- keys will change the active input in a cyclic manner. After selecting

the desired input, a long press on the menu key (M) will exit the menu, or a short press

will initiate the next menu options.

A 2nd short press of the menu will enter the digital filter menu. A unique finite-

impulse-response filter (FIR) was developed for Black Dragon exquisite musical

performance. We recommend that the filter should be kept on the default setting “ON”.

The filter can be disabled by pressing either “+” or “-“ keys. The display will show the

corresponding setting like “FIR ON” or “FIR OFF”.

After making the desired setting, a long press on menu key will return to the default screen.

FIRMWARE UPDATE

The Black Dragon is a software-defined processor; this means it’s internal digital

hardware architecture is mostly defined by a piece of software.

The update file for Black Dragon consists of a special wav file supplied by

Audiobyte. To properly use it, a bitperfect playback setup is required. We recommend

Foobar2000 in Kernel Streaming or Wasapi mode. In Foobar, volume must be set at

maximum (0 dB). The selected dac input should be USB.

If playback is bitperfect, when playing the update track, the screen below will

confirm the update process. After playback is completed (32 seconds), a restart of the

Black Dragon is required.

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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REMOTE CONTROL

All the functions of the dac are available through the IR remote control. Make sure the

“DAC” function is used from the remote (DAC key).

Pressing up/down keys will directly control the volume. Central key will enter the menu,

and up/down keys will be used to change the menu settings.

A long press on the central key will exit the menu.

The “DISP” key can be used to toggle the display on/off.

USB CONFIGURATION

The BLACK DRAGON is up-to-date with all available resolution formats. For the

computer playback side, please consider the following informations.

Recommended software players:

1) Foobar2000

2) Jriver

3) Jplay

4) Audiogate

5) Audirvana Plus

Under Win XP environment, kernel streaming (KS) is recommended for PCM, and ASIO

for DSD playback.

Under W7/8 environment, WASAPI or ASIO mode is recommended for both PCM and DSD

playback.

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USB Driver Installation Details (Windows XP 32/64, Windows 7 32/64)

Do not connect the USB cable to the computer before driver installation. If you have

already connected the dac to the PC, click Cancel on the screen that has showed up and

remove the USB cable.

1. Go to product’s page on www.audiobyte.net

2. Download the compatible drivers.

3. Unpack zip archive.

4. Enter your OS folder.

5. Launch Setup32.exe for 32bit OS or Setup64.exe for 64bit OS.

6. After the application launches, click Next:

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7. Wait for the driver to be copied and then click Finish:

8. Connect the dac to the PC. In the dialog below, select “No, not this time” and then click “Next”.

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9. In the new window select “Install the software automatically” and click “Next”.

10. Click the “Continue Anyway” button.

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11. Wait for the files to be copied and click “Finish”.

Select Audiobyte Kernel Streaming as output device in your music player or

Windows(Control Panel->Sounds and Audio Devices->Audio->Sound playback).

To adjust device volume, open Start->Programs->Accessories->Entertainment->Volume

Control, enter Options->Properties, select Audiobyte Kernel Streaming as Mixer device, select all

volume controls and click OK.

Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon in your taskbar before unplugging the USB cable

prevents your system from becoming unstable. If the device cannot be removed, stop the

playback and exit the applications that may use it as an output.

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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1. ROCKNA LIMITED WARRANTY

THREE (3) YEARS

WARRANTY COVERAGE:

ROCKNA warranty obligation is limited to the

terms set forth below.

WHO IS COVERED:

Rockna warrants the product to the original

purchaser or the person receiving the product as a

gift against defects in materials and workmanship

as based on the date of original

purchase(“Warranty Period”) from an Authorized

Dealer. The original sales receipt showing the

product name and the purchase date from an

authorized retailer is considered such proof.

WHAT IS COVERED:

The Rockna warranty covers new products if a

defect arises and a valid claim is received by

Rockna within the Warranty Period. At its option,

Rockna will either (1) repair the product at no

charge, using new or refurbished replacement

parts, or (2)exchange the product with a product

that is new or which has been manufactured from

new, or serviceable used parts and is at least

functionally equivalent or most comparable to the

original product in Rockna current inventory, or

(3) refund the original purchase price of the

product. Rockna warrants replacement products or

parts provided under this warranty against defects

in materials and workmanship from the date of the

replacement or repair for ninety (90) days or for

the remaining portion of the original product’s

warranty, whichever provides longer coverage for

you. When a product or part is exchanged, any

replacement item becomes your property and the

replaced item becomes Rockna’s property.When a

refund is given, your product becomes Rockna’s

property.

Note: Any product sold and identified as

refurbished or renewed carries a ninety (90) day

limited warranty. Replacement product can only

be sent if all warranty requirements are met.

Failure to follow all require-ments can result in

delay.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED - EXCLUSIONS

AND LIMITATIONS:

This Limited Warranty applies only to the new

products manufactured by or for Rockna that can

be identified by the trade-mark, trade name, or

logo affixed to it. This Limited Warranty does not

apply to any non-Rockna hardware product or any

software, even if packaged or sold with the

product. Non-Rockna manufacturers, suppliers, or

publishers may provide a separate warranty for

their own products packaged with the bundled

product. Rockna is not liable for any damage to or

loss of any programs, data, or other information

stored on any media contained within the product,

or any non-Rockna product or part not covered by

this warranty. Recovery or reinstallation of

programs, data or other information is not covered

under this Limited Warranty.

This warranty does not apply (a) to damage caused

by accident, abuse, misuse, misapplication, or non-

Rockna product, (b) to damage caused by service

performed by anyone other than Rockna or

Rockna Authorized Service Location, (c) to a

product or a part that has been modified without

the written permission of Rockna, or (d) if any

Rockna serial number has been removed or

defaced, or (e) product, accessories or

consumables sold “AS IS” without warranty of

any kind by including refurbished Rockna product

sold “AS IS” by some retailers.

This Limited Warranty does not cover:

• Shipping charges to return defective product to

Rockna.

• Labor charges for installation or setup of the

product, adjustment of customer controls on the

product, and installation or repair of antenna

systems outside of the product.

• Product repair and/or part replacement because

of improper installation, connections to improper

voltage supply, abuse, neglect, misuse, accident,

unauthorized repair or other cause not within the

control of Rockna.

• Damage or claims for products not being

available for use, or for lost data or lost software.

• Damage occurring to product during shipping.

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• A product that requires modification or

adaptation to enable it to operate in any country

other than the country for which it was designed,

manufactured, approved and/orauthorized, or

repair of products damaged by these

modifications.

• A product used for commercial or institutional

purposes (including but not limited to rental

purposes).

• Product lost in shipment and no signature

verification receipt can be provided.

• Failure to operate per Owner’s Manual.

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE

REMEDY FOR THE CONSUMER. ROCKNA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON

THIS PRODUCT. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY

IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

ON THIS PRODUCT IS LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY.

Some states do not allow the exclusions or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, or allow

limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to

you.

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON Digital Preamplifier

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Document version and performed modifications:

Version

Date

Description

1.00

17-07-2014

Initial release

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON User manual

AUDIOBYTE BLACK DRAGON User manual

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